Alex Chidiac is a little footballer going big places fast. The diminutive youngster, back in Australia with the Matildas, is still wondering how she landed at European giants Atletico Madrid.

"I'm still trying to wrap my head around the whole Atletico Madrid thing," she told AAP.

"It's such a big change and such a big club, very high quality."

The truth is, she doesn't need to look very far to understand how she ended up at one of the biggest clubs in the world.

After a few W-League campaigns, Chidiac was open to her first overseas club adventure, and it was teammate Aivi Luik opened the door.

"It's because of me that she's at where she's at right now," Luik said.

"I introduced her to my agent. I'd been wanting to play in Spain for a while, so she got on the bandwagon ... and she still hasn't thanked me. I'm quite burnt by that."

Luik's joke shows the pair's closeness despite a 13-year age gap.

The 33-year-old was a key figure in City's original W-League-winning season, where she met Chidiac.

The well-travelled midfielder landed at Levante in Valencia.

"I've been wanting to play in Spain for a while because the league is so good ... this year was now or never," she said.

"I'm happy with it although at times it's very difficult and frustrating because mostly of the language barrier."

Chidiac is grateful for the connection, given she landed at the two-time reigning champions.

Top of the experience list so far was a trip to rivals Athletic Club, in Bilbao, where the team was surprised by a stunning crowd of 48,000.

"The fans are crazy," she says. "We got to play at the men's stadium. I had no idea there would be so many. Most of the girls felt the same. We rocked up and it was packed.

"It felt like the whole city was there. It was amazing and they all brought flashlights. At one moment the whole crowd turned their lights on, all you could see was dark and the light of the flashlights. It was so cool.

"We won 2-0 and now we've just beat Barcelona in the Cup semifinal 2-0. So we'll play the final in May ... it will be huge."

More than just big crowds, Chidiac and Luik say it's giving them the best chance of making an impact at the World Cup - even if they're both not regular starters.

"It's been amazing. It develops your game in a way that staying in one country can't," Luik said.

"You form a type of footballing philosophy and style ... you broaden your repertoire.

"It helps you become well rounded and understanding of different styles and what's needed in different games."